Handle lock



p 6, 1947. H. w. RASMUSSEN 2,427,622

BANDLE LOCK.

Filed March 14, 1947 -1NVENTOR. HnRvuW Runussm ||mm BY a 55 nrrmweyPatented Sept. 16, 1947 HANDLE LOCK Harvey W. Rasmussen, Bloomington,111., assignor to Eureka Williams Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application March 14,1947, Serial No. 734,609

Claims.

This invention relates to handle locks for suction cleaners and thelike.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and simplifiedform of handle lock and release therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following specification taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing of which there is one sheet and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a cleaner embodying theinvention with the handle locked in its vertical or parked position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the manner in which thehandle lock may be released;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the position of theparts of the handle lock just prior to their engagement;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the handle mounting illustratingthe handle position control means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the staggered line5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view on a reduced scale of a suction cleaner embodying theinvention.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, a suction cleaner embodying the inventioncomprises in general a body 38 having Wheels 32 and 34 for supportingthe cleaner for movement on the floor, a handle 36 pivotally mounted onthe cleaner for maneuvering the same, and a bag 38 for collecting thedirt which is picked up by the cleaner.

In Fig. 6 the handle 36 is shown in an operat ing position, whereas inFig. 1 the handle is shown in a position which is frequently designatedas its parked or vertical position. This invention has particularreference to a releasable locking mechanism associated with the handleand the body which is automatically operable for locking the handle inits vertical position relative to the body upon swinging movement of thehandle to said vertical position so as to permit the cleaner to bepicked up by means of the handle while maintaining the relative positionof the body and handle.

A handle bracket indicated generally at fill is suitably secured to thebody 38 above the rear wheels 32 and is provided with a. pair of arms 62having bearings in which axle or shaft 44 is journalled. The handleincludes a socket 46 having spaced side walls 48 in which the ends ofshaft 44 are secured whereby the handle is pivotally mounted on the bodyby means of the bracket 48 and the axle 45.

The handle socket 46 is provided with a cross pin or latch 50, sometimeshereinafter referred to as a locking member or a locking element, suchpin being fixedly secured to the side walls 48 of the socket. A latch orlever 52, sometimes hereinafter referred to as a locking element orlocking member, is pivoted on a shaft 54 carried by the bracket 46. Thelatch 52 comprises two spaced interconnected parallel sides and isbiased in a clockwise direction about the shaft 54 by means of coilspring 56 coiled around the shaft 54 and with one end of the spring 56reacting against one side of the latch 52 while the other end reactsagainst the body of the cleaner as shown in Fig. 1.

The sides of the latch 52 on their upper surface are formed to provide anotch or recess 58 and a shoulder or stop 60 at one side of the recess.When the handle is locked in its parked position as shown in Fig. l, thelatch 52 is positioned so that the pin 58 is disposed in the recess 58.The

stop or shoulder 68 reacts on the pin 50 to prevent pivotal movement ofthe handle 36 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot. Thedistance between the handle and lever pivot centers is less than the sumof ,the distance between the handle pivot center and the pin plus thedistance between the lever pivot center and the stop 60. Spring 56yieldably holds latch 52 in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 so thatthe handle 36 is locked in such position against counterclockwisepivotal movement about the axis of the shaft 46. The pin 50 and therecess 58 also provide a detent action to index the handle in its parkedor vertical position. The handle however is free to move a limitedamount in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft. By pushingthe handle forwardly slightly from its vertical or parked position tothe position illustrated in Fig. 2, the handle lock may be disengaged.

During forward movement of the handle the pin 50 will react against thetapered left hand side of the recess 58 and shift or displace the latch52 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the spring 56 yielding so asto permit the latch 52 to move. A spring 62 is provided with a hookshaped portion 66 which is adapted to engage and receive the end of thelatch 52 so as to hold it in the position as illustrated in Fig. 2, thatis, its disengaged position.

With the latch disposed as illustrated in Fig. 2, the shoulder 60 is outof the path of movement of the pin 50, and hence the handle may be swungrearwardly. and downwardly about its pivot to an operating position.After a certain amount 3 of swinging movement of the handle toward itsoperating position the pin 50 is arranged to engage a finger 68 formedon the latch and thereby to shift the latch 62 about the shaft 54 so asto restore the latch 62 to the position in which it is illustrated inFig. 1.

The spring 62 will yield to permit the end of the latch 52 to bedisengaged from the portion 66. Thereafter when the handle is restoredto its parked position as illustrated in Fig. 3, the spring 62 willpermit the latch 52 to yield or be displaced sumciently so as to permitthe pin 80 to move into line with the notch 58, after which the spring46 will shift the latch 52 back to its position as illustrated in Fig. 1so that the pin 50 will be seated in the notch 58. It will thus beobserved that upon restoring the handle to its parked position thehandle lock will automatically lock the handle in such position and thatby moving the handle slightly forward from its parked position thehandle lock will be released so that the handle may be moved to itsoperating position.

- A torsion spring is coiled around the shaft 44 and reacts upon thebracket and on the pin so as to counterbalance, at least partially, theweight of the handle.

A lever 12 pivoted on a shaft I4 carried by the bracket 40 includes aportion I8 havingsa notch 18 which is adapted to receive a roller "asillustrated in Fig. 4. The shoulder 62 above the notch 18 forms ayieldable stop which determines one normal limit of the operatingposition of the handle. A spring 83 coiled about the shaft 14 reacts onthe lever I! so as to hold the edge thereof inengagement withthe roller80 and permitsthe lever 12 to yield if suflicient pressure is applied tothe handle so that the roller 80 may travel upwardly beyond the shoulderii. The roller 80 is journalled and secured on a bushing I which ismounted on a projection of the pin it.

The pin III is adapted to engage the side arms of the bracket 40 asshown in Fig. 2 so as to limit the clockwise pivoting movement of thehandle relative to the bracket 40. A pin 90 carried by one of the armsofthe bracket 40 limits the clockwise pivoting movement of the latch 52about the shaft 54.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described a body, an upstanding handlepivoted on said body for swinging movement from a substantially verticalposition downwardly and rearwardly to an operating position and back tosaid vertical position, a releasable locking mechanism associated withsaid handle and body and automatically operable for locking said handlein its vertical position relative to said body upon swinging movement ofsaid handle into said vertical position so as to permit said device tobe picked up by means of said handle while maintaining the relativeposition of said body and handle, said locking mechanism comprising alaterally extending pin on said handle. a latch pivoted on said bodyhaving a stop arranged so that it may be positioned latch in position tolock said handle against rearward pivoting movement and means actuatedby forward pivoting movement of said handle from said vertical positionfor shifting said latch so as to move said stop out of the path of saidpin in order to permit rearward pivoting movement of said handle.

2. In a device of the class described a body, an upstanding handlepivoted on said body for swinging movement from a substantially verticalposition downwardly and rearwardly to an operating position and back tosaid vertical position, a releasable locking mechanism associated withsaid handle and body and automatically operable for locking said handlein its vertical position relative to said body upon swinging movement ofsaid handle into said vertical position so as to permit said body to bepicked up by means of said handle while maintaining the relativeposition of said body and handle, said locking mechanism comprising alocking member on said handle, a locking member on said body positionedin the path of movement of said handle locking member so as to lock saidhandle against rearward pivoting movement, one of said locking membersbeing mounted so that it may be shifted to an inoperative position, andmeans actuated by forward pivoting movement of said handle from saidvertical position for shifting said one of said locking members to saidinoperative position in order to permit rearward pivoting movement ofsaid handle.

3.v A device according to claim 2 wherein means actuated by rearwardpivoting movement or said handle are provided to restore said lockingmember to an operative position.

4. In a device of the class described a body, a handle pivoted on saidbody for swin ing movement from a parked position in one direction to anoperating position and back to said parked position, a releasablelocking mechanism associated with said handle and body and automaticallyoperable for locking said handle in its parked position relative to saidbody upon swin ing movement of said handle into said parked position,said locking mechanism comprising a locking element on said handle, alocking member on said body and arranged to engage said locking elementso asto lock said handle against pivoting movement in said onedirection, and means actuated by pivoting movement on said handle in theother direction from said parked position for shifting said lockingmember so as to move the same out of the path of said locking element inorder to permit pivoting movement of said handle in said one direction.

5. In a device of the class described a body, an upstanding handlepivoted on said body for swinging movement from a substantially verticalposition downwardly and rearwardly to an operating position and back tosaid vertical position, a releasable locking mechanism associated withsaid handle and body and automatically operable for locking saidhandlein its vertical position relative to said body upon swinging movement ofsaid handle into said vertical position so as to permit said device tobe picked up by means of said handle while maintaining the relativeposition of said body and handle, said looking mechanism including areleasable element operable for rendering said locking mechanisminoperable, and means actuated by forward pivoting movement of saidhandle from said vertical position for operating said releasable elementto render said locking mechanism inoperable in order to permit rearwardpivoting movement of said handle.

6. A body having a. handle pivoted thereto, a handle lock operable forlocking the handle in one position against pivoting movement in onedirection comprising a lever pivoted on said body and having a stopthereon, a member on said handle and spaced from the handle pivot,aspring acting on said lever yieldably to position the same so that saidstop is located in the path of movement of said member, thereby to locksaid handle against pivoting movement in said one direction, thedistance between said handle and lever pivot centers being less than thesum of the distance between the handle pivot center and said member plusthe distance between said lever pivot center and said stop, said memberacting on said lever upon pivoting movement of said handle in theopposite direction to shift said stop out of the path of movement ofsaid member, a spring constructed and arranged to position said leverwith said stop out of the path of movement of said member, said leverhaving a portion arranged to be engaged by said member after apredetermined extent of pivotal movement of the handle in said onedirection to restore said lever to a position where said stop is in thepath of movement of said member so that upon movement of said handle tosaid one position said stop will automatically cooperate with saidmember to lock said handle in said one position against pivotingmovement in said one direction.

'7. A body having a handle pivoted thereto, a handle lock operable forlocking the handle in one position comprising a latch on said body, amember on said handle and spaced from the handle pivot, a spring actingon said latch yieldably to position the same so that said latch islocated in the path of movement of said member, thereby to lock saidhandle against pivoting movement in one direction, said member acting onsaid latch upon pivoting movement of said handle in the oppositedirection to shift said latch out of the path of movement of saidmember, means to position said latch out of the path of movement of saidmember, said latch having a portion arranged to be engaged by saidmember after a predetermined extent of pivotal movement of the handle insaid one direction to restore said latch to a position where it is inthe path of movement of said member so that upon movement of said handleto said one position said latch will automatically cooperate with saidmemsaid step out or the path of movement of said member, means operableupon a predetermined extent of pivotal movement of the handle in saidone direction to restore said lever to a position where said stop is inthe path of movement of said member so that upon movement of said handlein said one position said stop will automatically cooperate-with saidmember to lock said handle in said one position against pivotingmovement in said one direction.

9. A body having a handle pivoted thereto, a handle lock operable forlocking the handle in one position comprising a lever pivoted on saidbody and having a stop thereon, a member on said handle and spaced fromthe handle pivot, means acting on said lever to position the same sothat said stop is located in the path of movement of said member,thereby to lock said handle against pivoting movement in one direction,means acting on said lever upon pivoting movement of said handle in theopposite direction to shift said stop out of the path of movement ofsaid member, means to position said lever with said stop out of the pathof movement of said member, means operable by and upon a predeterminedextent of pivotal movement of the handle in said one direction torestore said lever to a position where said stop is in the path ofmovement of said member so that upon movement of said handle to said oneposition said stop will automatically cooperate with said member to locksaid handle in said one position against pivoting ber to lock saidhandle in said one position against pivoting movement in said onedirection.

8. A body having a handle pivoted thereto, a handle lock operable forlocking the handle in one position comprising a lever 'pivoted on saidbody and having a stop thereon, a member on said handle and spaced fromthe handle pivot, means acting yieldably to position said lever so thatsaid stop is located in the path of movement of said member, thereby tolock said handle against pivoting movement in one direction, said memberacting on said lever upon pivoting movement of said handle in theopposite direction to shift said stop out of the path of movement ofsaid member, means to position said lever with movement in said onedirection.

10. A body having a handle pivoted thereto, a handle lock operable forlocking the handle in one position comprising a latch, a member on saidhandle, means acting on said latch to posi tion the same so that saidlatch is located in the path of movement of said member, thereby to locksaid handle against pivoting movement in one direction, means acting onsaid latch by and upon pivoting movement of said handle in the oppositedirection to shift said latch out of the path of movement of saidmember, means to maintain said latch out of the path of movement of saidmember, means acting by and upon movement of the handle in said onedirection to restore said latch to a position in the path of movement ofsaid member so that upon' movement of said handle to said one positionsaid stop will automatically cooperate with said member to lock saidhandle in said one position against pivoting movement in sa d onedirection.

HARVEY W. RASMUSSEN.

REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,243,066 Becker May 27 19412,243,812 Carlson Ma 2'7, 1941 2,422l216 Ballofi June 17, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 269,262 Italy Nov. 14, 1929 Disclaimer2,427,622.-Harvey W. Rasmussen, Bloomington, I11. HANDLE LocK. Patentdated Sept. 16, 1947. Disclaimer filed Sept. 24, 1948, by the inventor;the assignee,

Eureka Williams Corporation, consenting.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 2, 3, 4 and 5 of said patent.

[Oficial Gazette October 26, 1948.]

